Washington Report

Chicken exports in April decreased 6.0 percent in quantity; decreased 4.8 percent in value

On June 18, 2026, in Chicken Exports, by Phouth Gonzalez

Chicken exports in April 2026 decreased 6.0 percent in quantity; decreased 4.8 percent in value when compared with April 2025, according to USDA.

Eggs set, chicks placed, broilers produced report

On June 18, 2026, in Eggs Set-Chicks Placed-Slaughter Report, by Phouth Gonzalez

U.S. total broiler slaughter data for the week ending June 13, 2026, is estimated by USDA’s Poultry Market News Service to be 172,275,000 broilers, a 1-percent increase from the same week a year earlier.

The 1-percent increase in slaughter compares with a 2-percent increase in eggs set in the United States, 10 weeks earlier, and a 2-percent increase in chicks placed 7 weeks earlier in the United States. USDA’s latest Broiler Hatchery report can be viewed here.

U.S. Eggs Set, Chicks Placed, Broiler Slaughter Report
Week ending	Eggs set		Chicks placed		Eggs set		Chicks placed		Broilers slaughtered
		change from		change from	10 weeks previous		7 weeks previous		Broilers slaughtered
		1 year		1 year		1 year		1 year		1 year
	-000-	%	-000-	%	-000-	%	-000-	%	-000-	%
May
2	257,171	103	198,754	104	254,948	102	196,241	102	171,230	103
9	255,377	102	198,147	103	254,423	102	196,001	102	171,765	102
16	256,660	102	198,526	103	253,644	102	195,765	102	170,711	101
23*	256,395	102	198,833	103	253,754	102	196,663	103	174,103	101
30	257,517	102	197,400	102	255,241	103	197,285	100	156,314	104
Jun
6	256,971	102	198,472	103	256,471	103	198,480	104	173,295	103
13	254,839	101	198,381	102	253,609	102	195,753	102	172,275	101
20	—	—	—	—	256,827	103	198,754	104	—	—

*Memorial Day Weekend

Protected: NCC 2026 Summer BOD Meeting – Presentations

On June 17, 2026, in NCC Programs, by Polina Burko

USDA officially delays Poultry Payment Rule

On June 4, 2026, in Packers & Stockyards Act, by Tom Super

WHAT HAPPENED: USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) on Monday officially announced in the Federal Register an 18-month delay of the “Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems” rule, which was set to go into effect on July 1, 2026. AMS proposed the delay in March after reviewing the rule’s potential costs to the poultry industry and consumers.

WHY IT MATTERS: The rule would have effectively banned performance-based bonuses for chicken farmers, requiring all growers to be paid the same rate regardless of their hard work, investments, housing conditions, or bird welfare practices. AMS acknowledged that even a small drop in production efficiency under the rule could result in significantly higher broiler costs — ultimately hitting consumers at the grocery store.

NCC’s TAKE: We strongly support the delay. “I want to thank Secretary Rollins for delaying this Biden-era regulation, which was published less than one week before President Trump was inaugurated,” said NCC President Harrison Kircher. “This rule threatened to dismantle an efficient and successful industry model that rewards farmers and helps keep chicken affordable for American consumers. We applaud the Trump administration’s decision to delay this rule and urge its full recission.” Our March press release supporting AMS’s announcement can be found here.

WHAT’s NEXT: While the rule is now set to go into effect on December 31, 2027, NCC will continue to urge for its full rescission.